constant headache and fluid draining into ears.

i have been experinecing headaches for a couple of years they are twenty four hours a day they are always there. With the headachses I also have fluid draining into my ears, which than ring, become full, crackly and then after the draining relieves from my ears I feel my neck crackle. When the draining occurs I also feel the increase in headaches. I have had MRI/ and lumbar puncture, told they were fine . one other symtpom I can say is that if my nose runs from lets say after eating soup or sneezing my nose will run heavliy and I can actually feel the fluid building up on the right side of the head than the draining takes place. I just had another CT scan of the sinuses 3/23/07 and was told that there was free form fluid, synchaie??? and mucosal thickening of all the sinsues, including problems with the sinus air cells. . Told this is nothing to worry about. I am so at a loss as what to do or who to even see, as I know my symptoms better than anyone and I can without a doubt descrbie them to a tee. I can only say that this started after a sinus infection that seemed never to clear up. One more thing, when I feel the release of fluid this pressure builds up on the right side of my head almost direclty in line with the right ear after the pressure builds up I feel a release of fluid which than drains. hope someone can offer advice...........thank you   Can you tell me what is meant by Synechaie and free form fluid.  I do feel the fluid draining so I am wondering if that is the fluid I feel. But, I am not sure what Synechaie is thank you.  attached copy of cisternogram and mri.  I was questioning these two spots if you can help. I currenlty have the report only for the CT Scan of Paranasal sinsuses not films. thank you again:  the linkss are as follows.

cisternogram
http://community.webshots.com/photo/546590188/2874820810084724211YpsIGG
MRI
http://community.webshots.com/photo/546590188/2125892960084724211jZvXKU

[Forum-M.D.-SH]

First of all, keep in mind that I am unable to diagnose you because I am unable to examine you, this forum is for educational purposes.
    The symptoms that you describe are non-specific and do not signify any particular disease.  Headaches '24 hours a day' is a common complaint and is most often due to chronic daily headache.  These headaches respond well to a headache preventative medication such as elavil, topamax or zanaflex taken once daily.  It is also important to avoid other pain killer medications as more than 2 doses per week can cause rebound headaches (which are very hard to treat).     I would recommend that you see a neurologist that specializes in headaches for further care and diagnosis.  The images that you posted (a limited cisternogram and one cut of a MRI which was very poor quality) can not be interpreted due to their limited nature.  The term synechiae refers to a build up in muco-cilliary tissue that an ENT (ear nose and throat) doctor whould be more qualified to discuss with you.  The symptoms of hearing fluid and ringing, crackling noises in your ears may be due to eustacian tube dysfunction (the tube that connects your ear to your throat.  I would suggest you see an ENT for your chronic sinus disease, for which I will not be much help.  I can say however, that many people with migraine headaches have their headaches triggered by sinus problems (and many thought they had 'sinus headaches', which are mostly migraines.
I hope this has been helpful.

[terps1972]

HI. I just saw your post and it reminded me of something I saw last week on Mystery Diagnosis/Discovery Health channel. They guy had a rare condition (complication from cholesteotoma?) that had some of the same symptoms, including the ear and nose drainage, headaches and crackling noise. However, he had problems with his ears as a child and terrible dizziness and vertigo as an adult- so this may not be any help at all. It's worth checking out though.

http://community.discovery.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/5241904768/m/6161994078

[firefighter533]

I'm not a Dr. but I thought that I would tell you that I dealt with a colloid cyst last year and alot of it sounds the same as far as the sinus infection sounds and the headaches.  Being pretty much continous and working in an E.R. I was self diagnosing myself and taking over the counter sinus meds.  I would say that you need to see a different Dr. and get a second opinion.

[alchris]

thank you for any info you provide it will help me a little more be my own advocate  to the doctors.  thanks again

[Cappy81]

I would definately get a second opinion as if the fluid is clear ask your Dr if it could be cerebral spinal fluid as CSF can drain into the ears with increased intracranial pressure!

[StillSick]

I'm very sorry for writing on here but I'm desperate.  I've tried to post my own topic for several weeks but I haven't been able to get into the forum.  If anyone would be willing to hear my "complaints" and help me out I would be overly greatful.
  One week before Thanksgiving, I became very sick.  For several days I layed in bed and slept.  I thought I just had a bad cold.  My throat was extremely sore so after a few days I went to the ER since it was a Sunday.  The doctor looked at my throat and told me to take some antibiotics and I should be fine.  He didn't do a strep test or anything but just put me on the antibiotics.  I was on the medicine for 5 days.  I started to feel a little bit better but soon became even worse.  I went to another doctor and he told me that it was just something viral so he didn't prescribe any meds.  After a while, I was still feeling horrible.  My ears became terribly sore.  I couldn't even touch them without them hurting.  I called the doctor and he prescribed me a second round of antibiotics.  After I finished the second round, I started to finally feel better (after about 3 weeks).  All of a sudden, my symptoms came back.  Throughout the whole first month, I had this strange clear drainage coming from my ears.  Every time the doctors would look into my ears they would tell me there was nothing in them and that it was probably just ear wax.  I know this cannot be true as it is a clear, sometimes sticky or sometimes smooth, subsance.  My ears will feel as if I had changed elevation dramatically and they need to pop.  After yawning and making my ears pop this liquid would drain out of my ears and would seem like it drained quite a bit.  I finally went back to the doctor, a favorite of mine who is a wonderful doctor, who prescribed me a third round of antibiotics which he put me on for 15 days, plus a refill.  He took x-rays of my head and told me I had triple sinus infection.  I ended up being on the antibiotics twice a day for a month.  This was now almost January and I was still extremely fatigued and frustrated as to why I could not get better.  Throughout this whole time I've had a random white spot on my tonsil which the doctors say is just food or bacteria stuck onto it.  They have tried to get it off but it won't move.  Also, when I feel sick my tonsils seem to swell up.  And another thing was my right gland in the front of my neck.  It would swell up to a HUGE size and go back down to normal within a matter of minutes.  It was very painful too.  I ended up seeing an ENT who told me I grind my teeth at night and this was the cause of all of my troubles.  I found that hard to believe.  After the ENT I went to see an allergist in February.  He found that I was slightly allergic to dust mites so I followed all of the steps to prevent the mites from bothering me.  Also, the allergist diagnosed me with migranes (migraines) which I have been dealing with for a few years.  He then recommended an mono test which had been performed on me a few months prior.  The first test came back negative but this time it came back positive.  It said that I had had mono recently.  This was good news to hear that I finally seemed to have a diagnosis to all of my problems.  I just decided to somewhat take it easy over the rest of February and begining of March.  In March though, I began having sever side pains right below my right rib.  Doctors took x-rays and did an unltrasound but found nothing abnormal.  Meanwhile I have still had the horrible migranes (migraines), ear pain and drainage which wakes me up in the middle of the night and drains all day, and the strange side pains which seem to come on at completely random times.  I feel horrible every morning and frankly, I have forgotten how it feels to be healthy.  Nobody seems to be able to figure out what is wrong.  None of the doctors believe all of these symptoms are from the mono.  One doctor recommended a CT scan since I also have a sort of "lump" on the back left side of my neck and it seems to feel as if it is on the muscle.  This is where my migranes (migraines) usually begin.  I am just wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to how I might get better.  I still have all the symptoms that I had at the begining of this whole ordeal but they are a little better.  I am literally exhausted and don't know where to turn next.  I try to carry on as normally as possible but sometimes it just seems difficult.  I would truly appreciate any responses.  I'm sorry for leaving this comment but I feel desperate.  Thank you so much!
Brittany

[Carol in PA]

StillSick:
You could post on the Undiagnosed Symptoms forum.
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/undiagnosed-symptoms/wwwboard.html

Wishing you the best,
Carol

[tikaboo]

Hi. I tried posting a comment in the other forum but I am unable to.So I am sorry for writing here about the problem. I was diganised a month ago with a pineal cyst.For the past 3 weeks I have had severe headaches everyday 24-7.I feel very sick to my stomach all the time.I called the neurologist last week the nurse told me I am not due for a follow up until Dec and if I want to see him I have to go through my family dr.even though he is the one who told me the results and did the MRI.I have to go for another MRI don't know when yet.I am very frustrated with the drs. they seem like they don't want to help and the pain is driving me crazy.Is there anyone here that has the same problem?

[alchris]

Hi I understand how you feel I to have been given the run around for over two years already, so I know what it is like to push yourself thru a day not feeling good.  As I tell my husband I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.  But I too have the fluid problem with the ears and mine started after a bout of sinus infections that never seemed to go away.  I can only say to keep trying as hard as it is to find an answer especially when we know something isnt right at all it is hard to describe.  Mainly my problem is a constant headache and fluid draining.  Have you gotten any MRI's not that they have helped me but I belive they are being misread.  try and tell a doctor they get down right anrgy like mistakes never happen.  I wish I could offer more help but I too am facing the same thing as sad as it is.

[alchris]

hi if you havent seen a nuero surgeon go to as many as you can to find someone who will listen and help.  that is what I am trying to do for myself and hoping one day someone will find my problem too.  But do not wait till decemeber, you have to many months in between to be your own advocate and go to as many doctors as you can.

[tikaboo]

thank u for writing back.I have an appointment in 2 weeks with my family dr.and I am telling her to do something send me wherever I need to go I can't take the pain no more.I talk to my husband about it to a certain degree but I try not to worry him.I feel as though I am dying inside,I know there is something seriously wrong with me I have read other write ups and they are as afraid as I am.The headaches are unbearable and getting worse my eyes always watering and my ears always feel clogged.Ihave this horrible taste in my mouth all the time I am constantly brushing my teeth.I hope we both get the answers we are looking for.

[ozark]

there are probably a few things going on....a low grade sinus infection that probably isnt responding to the meds you;ve been on...an ent md could culture your sinuses to see if you have a resistant bug.  the other thing is have they tried you on deocongestions and or nasal steroid sprays or prednisone?  this may help the swelling and allow your sinuses to drain.  You could also do nasal saline washes in your nares and help clean them out. You should follow up with your pcp  
wishing you well

[gallopinal]

I have bilateral ear drainage which "pops" and then drains when I lay down, or with positional stretches.  It seems like it drains quite a bit onto my pillow, sometimes the drip drip keeps me awake. I also feel feather quick cold nerve drifts across my cheeks/face. It feels like I have walked through a cold spider web. I have sharp headaches which seem to stab right around the crown of my head. If I am sleeping with my right ear on the pillow, sometimes that ear gets so full hot and painful that I have to prop myself up with pillows. This all started about 5 years ago when i was hit by a car-nothing diagnosed, really. I had a dural tear in my L spine (nothing done but PT,) neck problems, head trauma, sinus problems, facial changes, t spine pain, nerve damage in my back/leg etc.  I have had all of these darn scans (MRI/CT) since my accident 5 years ago but I am sure something is being overlooked. What do I do? Who do I see? I have been to a neurologist, chiro, acupunct. osteo, ENT, Ortho, Optom, Naturo etc.  My free T3 is low and glucose is 97 which is bizarre b/c I have always been healthy (up until my accident.)  I take Topamax 1x daily for the headaches (helping?) I feel worse worse worse than i ever have. hELP

[alchris]

Wish I could help I am in the same boat for a few years and had every test under the sun.  The strange thing is if you look at my links post above it shows something on the right side which is where my main problem is coming from with the fluid going into my ears, starts on the right side.  Aside from the headache ears always hurt, ring and sounds of popping esecially right ear.  My last ct scan show scar tissue and fluid doctors tells me its nothing.  I told him that I actually felt that fluid draining that day looked at me like I had seven heads.  Alos tells me I have scare tissue maybe I dont remeber have sinus surgery.  I myself dont know what to do anymore either I keep living this way and am sick and tired of being sick myself, I can symptahize especially when you cant get a diganose and doctors think you cant actually know how you feel.  I am going to another doctor I just have to find another one.

[Majestic DM]

Brittany,

I am not a doctor, but if the fluid runs like water, it could be "spinal fluid" draining out of your ears.  If you have headaches, vision problems, numbness in hands, dizzyness, discomfort at the base of your skull, these could be signs of a uncommon condition called Chiari Malformation.  Use your search engine and visit the following sites.

http://www.muhealth.org/~neuromed/chiarisymptoms.shtml

http://www.asap.org/articles/4year-Study.html

The second site specifically points out that they do not know where the CFS or spinal fluid goes for sure in people who have the Chari Malformation.

[Majestic DM]

I am not a doctor, but I believe that you, StillSick, Tikiboo and Alchris are all suffering from an uncommon condition called Chiari Malformation, or something similar.  It is a birth defect, but it's also common in people who have suffered an impact or injury.  If you have many strange problems ranging from headaches, abdominal problems, neck pain, shortness of breath, sharp pains in the throat, loss of sensations in the hands, pressure in the ears, heart palputations, and other strange things then you need to visit the following websites:

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/chiari/chiari.htm

http://www.asap.org/articles/4year-Study.html

http://www.co-cure.org/chiari.htm